Pastor Wrinkles: The Chapter Charts Pt. 172

Posted on September 21, 2013 by joseph elon lillie under Pastor Wrinkles

The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

According to my records we have not worked together on a chapter chart since July 19th! It has been a busy summer. Still I had best get a move on with these posts or we will never make our way through the Bible.

The chapter charts are a Bible study technique wherein two chapters of the Bible are dissected. Three themes are drawn out of each chapter and distilled into titles for a blog post or sermon. I would love to have you join in on the fun. All you have to do is read the chapter in question and come up with three ideas you could turn into titles of a blog. Try it and write your own chapter chart post and link it to the comment section here!

If you would like to check out some other chart posts go to Lillie-Puts chart page at http://wp.me/P39vIx-fo

Today we start the book of 1 Chronicles.

Here is what I see in toady’s chapters:

1 Chronicles chapter 1 sermon topics/ titles:

1.Hero Or Hitler? 1 Chron. 1:10

2. Born Divided: 1 Chron. 1:19

3. My Three “Sons”: A Study Of Abrahamic Birth Lines: 1 Chron. 1:27-54

1 Chronicles chapter 2 sermon topics/titles:

1. “Wealth” (Bath Shua) Begets Wickedness: 1 Chron. 2:3

2. Sin and Sovereign From the Same Line: 1 Chron. 2:7-15

3. A Twisted Lineage Of Greatness: 1 Chron. 2: 4-55

I would love to see what blog ideas you come up with from the genealogies (hint: use google search to research the meanings of some of the names of the people or the cities) 🙂

Pastor Wrinkles: House On Fire Pt. 12

Posted on September 20, 2013 by joseph elon lillie under Pastor Wrinkles

The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

Our study through the Book Of Acts is going strong. I am truly enjoying the on-line discussions I have been able to have with many of you. If you have missed any of the chats you can catch up and take part by going to my House on Fire Page here http://wp.me/P39vIx-Gh

Now on to today’s topic.

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. Acts 5:12-14

After the trouble with Ananias and Sapphira growth continued in the church. But there was a great reluctance to join the leadership of the church.

In order for the church to grow the leadership must grow and this is going to be a problem for the church later on.

Today’s questions:

Why do you suppose people were afraid top join the leadership?

Do you see any of the same attitudes in people today?

What can be done to help overcome these attitudes?

Pastor Wrinikles: House On Fire Pt. 11

Posted on September 17, 2013 by joseph elon lillie under Pastor Wrinkles

The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

Now on to today’s topic.

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. Acts 5:1-11

You must know that the enemy is never silent when God begins to work. The church always has to be vigilant that the Devil will try to come in. If we submit ourselves to God and resist the Devil he will flee but this calls for us to guard our ways daily.

What are some ways you guard your faith?

Heaven Pt. 128

Posted on September 16, 2013 by joseph elon lillie under Pastor Wrinkles

I started writing the “Heaven” posts on my previous blog in December of 2011. My goal was to look at every verse in the Bible that used the word Heaven and to bring forth a commentary on the place where God’s throne resides. In the last two years we have made much of Heaven together, dear readers. I have to admit it is not just Heaven I understand a bit better through these meditations but the God of Heaven as well. If you would like to read past “Heaven” posts you can find them under the Heaven page by clicking on the Pastor Wrinkles icon above.

The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” Neh. 2:4,5

As I started writing this morning I did what I usually do. I sat down at my computer looked at the next item on my list to write about and began ploughing into the subject. Then I read this Scripture and had to stop. I realized I was doing things backwards. You see, after my pattern, I make my plans, set them in motion and then I ask God to bless them.

As I read this morning I realized that is not what Nehemiah did. He was burdened with a God idea but when his opportunity came He didn’t just charge ahead in his own strength trying to accomplish the things of God . He first sent out an appeal for blessing from the God of Heaven. It may not have been anything more than a breath prayer but it was enough to cause Him to be cast upon the mercies of God for His future rather than upon his own weak arm of flesh.

It’s a lesson I have learned before and forgotten, apparently. We cannot work first and then pray. We must pray first and then work. This latter method is the key to gaining the Lord’s favor before we launch and therefore His direction and success in the project. The former is a chasing after wind and a sure method of ending up with only scatter shot victory.

Tell me about a time you sought the Lord before a project and He directed you to success.

Pastor Wrinkles: The Power Of Words

Posted on September 14, 2013 by joseph elon lillie under Photography

This Post was written as a devotional thought from Pastor Wrinkles after reading the challenge concerning “WORDS” from “Across the Bored”. To Read more “Two Cents” challenges go to http://acrossthebored.com/2013/09/10/two-cents-tuesday-challenge-words/

I have just finished Orson Scott Card’s prize-winning book, Ender’s Game . The antagonist’s (sort of) of the book are a race of alien insects, called “the buggers”. The buggers are a hive race who need no words to communicate with each other. Communication is complete openness and to the buggers the inability to connect psychically is an indication of non-sentience. Of course to humans the inability to speak means the same thing. The book left me with a profound understanding that we humans take much for granted.

I got to thinking about all this in the context of my communication with the Almighty. He is not bound by words as I am. For example,He speaks through the breadth and depth of the creation

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Ro. 1:18-20

He speaks through a still small voice in the center of my heart which, though often framed into words, begins as little more than a strong inclination.

And then He bends to Earth and offers to use the clunky inadequate thing we call human language. When He does even that weak form is invested with such power it shakes the world throughout the generations.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire Isaiah 55:9-11

If His words translated through the mouths and pens of others can cause such a great stir in the histories of men, what will it be like when the whole world hears His true voice?

He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
    the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
    with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The Lord thundered from heaven;
    the voice of the Most High resounded.[a]
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
    with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
    and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, Lord,
    at the blast of breath from your nostrils. Psam. 18:11-15

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
    Sirion[b] like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
    with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
    the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks[c]
    and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!” Psam. 29: 3-9

I would love to hear your thoughts…

Pastor Wrinkles: House On Fire Pt. 10

Posted on September 12, 2013 by joseph elon lillie under Pastor Wrinkles

The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

Now on to today’s topic.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. Acts 4:13-21

In verse 17 the leaders of the temple commanded the apostles not to preach any more in the “name” of Jesus…that is the “onoma” of Jesus. “Onoma” means “all that the name stands for”

You see this was more than a problem with Jesus’ name; It was also a question of doctrine. It is important to note that this group warning the apostles was the Sadducees, the rulers of the temple, not the Pharisees. The Sadducees were struggling specifically with the doctrine of the resurrection because they did not believe in it. In this passage they were insisting that the RESURRECTION not be preached even though they could not deny the miracle that happened to the lame man.

As a result of this intimidation from the Temple the believers gather in prayer. Here is what they prayed:

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Acts 4:23-31

Today’s questions for discussion:

What do the disciples pray for in light of the threat from the authorities?

Would you have added or left out anything from this prayer if you had prayed it?

Heaven Pt. 127

Posted on September 11, 2013 by joseph elon lillie under Pastor Wrinkles

Now here is today’s post:

but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens,yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name Neh. 1:9

This verse puts me in mind of another from the Book of Psalms 139:7-12

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

God sees us right where we are. We can fool others. We can sometimes even fool ourselves about how life is going, but we never fool God. We also cannot move so far away from Him that we are beyond His ability to restore us. God is able to forgive the most heinous sin. God is able to restore the most broken life. All He needs is permission from a heart that longs for restoration enough to leave its evil and brokenness behind.

Let’s pray: Dear Lord Jesus, Today I long for restoration in every area of my life. Today I give you all the hidden places of my life… those I have hidden from others even those I may have tried to hide from myself. Come Lord Jesus restore me as I leave all evil and brokenness behind in exchange for your healing and restoration. Amen!

Pastor Wrinkles: House On Fire Pt. 9

Posted on September 9, 2013 by joseph elon lillie under Pastor Wrinkles

The Word of God is a bridge that connects Earth with Heaven and Heaven with Earth.- Joseph Elon Lillie

So, we come to another opportunity to study and discuss the Book Of Acts together. If you have missed any of our previous discussions you can find them here

http://wp.me/P39vIx-Gh – House On Fire Page

Now here is our discussion for the day:

We are beginning Acts chapter 4.

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. 2 These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. 3 They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. 4 But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children. Acts 4:1-4 NLT

The disciples were arrested by the Sadducees for preaching the resurrection. It is interesting to note that the disciples were not breaking any Roman law, but the Jews were acting on what amounted to current “anti-terrorism” legislation. The Romans forbade anything that could cause riots and the Jews of that day took advantage of the rioting laws to squelch anything they saw as troublesome to their doctrines. The disciples were frequently arrested for disturbing the peace or to stop them from “inciting a riot.”

The doctrinal issue the Sadducees and Pharisees are struggling with is found in Acts 4:5-12

The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. 7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, 9 are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10 Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene,[a]the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 11 For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

‘The stone that you builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.’[b]

12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

The claim of course is that not only did Jesus die and rise from the dead but that He is the messiah.

For our discussion today let’s take a look back at Acts 1:6 and then a second glance at Acts 4:5-12

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”

Tell me how did Peter’s view of the Kingdom of God and his work in it change between ascension day and his arrest by the Sadducees? (Acts 1:6)

Pastor Wrinkles; He Completes Me Pt. 6

Posted on September 7, 2013 by joseph elon lillie under Pastor Wrinkles

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Col. 2:10

We continue today with our discussion from Colossians 2:10. I hope you have been blessed by these offerings. If you by chance have missed any of our last “Complete Me” posts you can find them here:

http://wp.me/p39vIx-IQ Written sermon- He Completes Me Pt 1

http://wp.me/p39vIx-IU Written sermon- He Completes Me Pt. 2

http://wp.me/p39vIx-J8 Written sermon- He Completes Me Pt. 3

http://wp.me/p39vIx-Ju Written Sermon He Completes Me Pt. 4

http://wp.me/p39vIx-K4 Written Sermon He Completes Me Pt. 5

Today we continue in our topic speaking about our completion in supernatural strength.

Dear reader you must know that, the Bible tells us that we are not only complete in our salvation and in our sanctification but we are also complete in supernatural power to accomplish the purposes of God for our lives.

God has big plans for you and for your life. He says it this way.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Many of you are looking at the plans God has shown you and you are saying “God that is impossible.” You are absolutely right. Accomplishing the plans of God for your life in your own strength is impossible but you are not working under your own power you are working under God’s power and you are complete in Him. You are complete in the supernatural strength of God to be able to do all the miracles which are going to have to be done in order for you to succeed in the plans of God.

Ask Paul the Apostle if he thought he was capable of fulfilling the plans of God for His life. By his own confession he said,

“8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters,[a] about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.” 2 Cor. 1:8-10

Experiences like this caused him to come to the conclusion

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Phil. 4:13

Soooo…What area of your life do you have to begin believing you are supernaturally strong in?

Pastor Wrinkles: He Completes Me Pt. 5

Posted on September 6, 2013 by joseph elon lillie under Pastor Wrinkles

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. Col. 2:10

We continue our conversation today regarding Colossians 2: 6-10 with our concentration being on verse 10. If you have missed any of the previous posts they can be found here:

http://wp.me/p39vIx-IQ Written sermon- He Completes Me Pt 1

http://wp.me/p39vIx-IU Written sermon- He Completes Me Pt. 2

http://wp.me/p39vIx-J8 Written sermon- He Completes Me Pt. 3

http://wp.me/p39vIx-Ju He Completes Me Pt. 4

Now today we will discuss the subject of sanctification…

If you have asked Jesus into your heart then you are complete in your salvation. You can take nothing away from it and you can add nothing to it. Christian if you have asked Jesus into your heart you do not need to keep asking him over and over. You have asked He has responded. You are saved and unless you go to Him and say Jesus I don’t believe in you I no longer want you in my life you are saved because you are complete in your salvation.

But not only are you complete in your salvation you are also complete in your sanctification. “Sanctification” is a long Christianese word for being holy.

and “holy” is a short little Christianese word meaning you are set aside for special purposes by God to live righteously, that is to live defeating sinful attitudes and actions on a daily basis. You are complete in your holiness. The moment the Holy Spirit entered you and filled you up and saved you unto eternal life you were set aside for special purposes by God. The Bible says it this way:

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. I COR. 6:19,20

Christ died for you. You can live for Him. You have the ability to walk in righteousness over every sin and addiction.

“on July 3l, 1838 on the Island of Jamaica, a man named William Knibbs, gathered 10,000 slaves for a great praise gathering. They were celebrating the New Emancipation Proclamation Act that would abolish slavery on the island. They had built an immense coffin and into it were placed whips, branding irons, chains, fetters of all kinds, slave garments and all the things that represented the terrible slavery system that was now coming to a welcome end.

At the first stroke of the midnight bell, Knibbs shouted out, “The monster is dying.” At each stroke of the bell that followed this cry was repeated and the great crowd began to join in the cry. At the twelfth stoke 10,000 voices cried out, “The monster is dead, the monster is dead, let us bury him.” They then screwed the coffin lid down and lowered it into a huge grave and covered it up. That night, every heart rejoiced and 10,000 voices grew hoarse, shouting and crying with joy. Once they were in bondage to slavery, but now they were free.

There is a tragic side to this story. While many rejoiced in their new liberty and freedom, there were some slaves, that lived in remote areas of the island, that did not know they had legally been set free. Because they didn’t know, for many years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been made a law, they still continued to serve their slave masters. Their former masters successfully kept the news from them as long as they could. By law they had been declared free men and did not have to live as slaves any longer. However, ignorance of the truth kept them in bondage.
Now let me tell you an even sadder story. Today, if we’d hear a story of something like that happening, we’d be shocked, sympathetic and even angry. But the truth is, the same type of thing is happening in our day. Jesus Christ, because of his victory against sin on the cross, has issued an Emancipation Proclamation of liberty and freedom from sin to everyone on this earth. But like some of the Jamaicans were, there are those today that just don’t understand that they no longer have to live as slaves to sin any longer, and the devil is trying to keep them in that mind set.
The message of the cross is this: Satan has been defeated and sin’s penalty has been paid. We no longer have to surrender to sin or be controlled by Satan. We can belong to Jesus and live to please God.” Bill Lobbs

You see we are complete in sanctification, but we still struggle sometimes don’t we? What do you think causes the struggle?

Lillie-Put

The place where you can find out what Lillie thinks

Tag Archives: Bible study

Pastor Wrinkles: The Chapter Charts Pt. 172

Pastor Wrinkles: House On Fire Pt. 12

Pastor Wrinikles: House On Fire Pt. 11

Heaven Pt. 128

Pastor Wrinkles: The Power Of Words

Pastor Wrinkles: House On Fire Pt. 10

Heaven Pt. 127

Pastor Wrinkles: House On Fire Pt. 9

Pastor Wrinkles; He Completes Me Pt. 6

Dear reader you must know that, the Bible tells us that we are not only complete in our salvation and in our sanctification but we are also complete in supernatural power to accomplish the purposes of God for our lives.

Pastor Wrinkles: He Completes Me Pt. 5

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Dear reader you must know that, the Bible tells us that we are not only complete in our salvation and in our sanctification but we are also complete in supernatural power to accomplish the purposes of God for our lives.

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